Tours

Delhi is a big city. Many spend weeks here, and yet only manage to scrape the tip of the iceberg. Numerous travel agencies and tour operators organize day trips to the various monuments and attractions of the Delhi. The Delhi Tourism board also offers a wide spectrum of services to tourists. Assistance centers and tour offices are set up in various corners of the city. The Government of India Tourist Office +91 11 332 0005 New Delhi Railway Station, +91 11 336 4004, +91 11 373 2714 Indira Gandhi International Airport, +91 11 565 2011, +91 11 565 2021 Or visit the official New Delhi Tourist website. www.delhitourism.com

The city is so vast that it doesn't allow for simply walking during the sightseeing tours. However, the small feat can be accomplished by bunching tourist attractions close to each other.

Tour No.1 - Connaught Place is not only the commercial hub of the city but a cherished symbol of Lutyens grand architecture. It is a mammoth circular building, and has inner and outer circles where numerous shops, restaurants, clubs and showrooms are located. In the middle of this circular giant lies the lush central park. On its side is the underground shopping market of Palika Bazaar. On emerging from the air-conditioned underground, walk towards Art Today in the inner circle. It is a gallery, which showcases valuable contemporary works of Indian artists. Nearby is Jantar Mantar, the ancient observatory built in 1725 to determine time and positions of the planets.

Tour No.2 - Take an auto-rickshaw or a cab from Connaught Place and head towards India Gate. This structure is a tall gate made in sandstone to commemorate the soldiers of the Indian army. It is surrounded by vast manicured lawns with marble fountains, which lead to the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's Residence) on one end and the National Gallery of Modern Art on the other. The whole area is surrounded by Lutyen's buildings like The Secretariat, The National Museum and Shankar's Dolls Museum. The museums have massive collections and deserve at least a few hours each if not more.

Tour No.3 - The Lodhi Garden is located in south Delhi. It is almost a botanical garden with hundred-year-old trees and rare plants, and beautiful Lodhi tombs and bridges from the 1500s. It is spread over many acres complete with manicured grass lawns, wooden benches, red mud pathways and jogging tracks. There are many tombs here and visiting all of them takes many hours. On the left of these gardens is the impressive Safdarjung Tomb. Located in the midst of a sprawling complex, it is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture from the Mughal era. On the right of the Lodhi Gardens is India Habitat Centre and India International Centre. They are the two foremost cultural hubs of the city. Daily music, dance and literary performances, plays, book readings and art exhibitions are organized here.

Tour No.4 - The Nizamuddin area is full of ancient dargahs (Muslim shrines), which are not just popular tourist destinations but also revered pilgrimage sites. The most spectacular is Nizamuddin Auliya's dargah, which lies amidst a maze of small village-like lanes. On Thursdays, live Sufi music (Nizamuddin's qawwali) is performed in front of the shrine. The awe-inspiring Humayun's Tomb is also nearby.

Tour No.5 - The Qutub Minar complex lies in the southern-most part of the city. And a few kilometers away lies the border to the neighboring Haryana state. It is a sprawling complex with some of Delhi's most famous monuments, such as the Qutub Minar tower, the Iron Pillar, Tomb of Iltutmish, Alai Darwaza, and Alai Minar. A little away from the complex is Mehrauli. Ancient monuments like Bhulbhulaiyan, Gandak ki Baoli, Hathi Gate and Jamali Kamali are scattered all over this village-like area. Finding them all may be a bit difficult, therefore, it is advisable to carry a very good map or a guide.

Tour No.6 - On the southern edge of Delhi lie the eerie ruins of the Tughlaqabad Fort. It stretches for over seven kilometers and is a popular place for picnics or day treks as the climb up to the various parts of the fort can be quite adventurous. Nearby is the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary and the 11th century water tank of Surajkund.

Tour No.7 - If you prefer the sanity of civilization but don't want to miss the historical and tourist sites, visit the Lotus Temple. Here you'll find the bustling designer Hauz Khas Village, the allegedly haunted Chor Minar, and a charming sports complex of Siri Fort. The Lotus Temple announces its presence from miles away. An intimidating white structure in the shape of a lotus, it has been designed as a temple symbolizing the unity of all religious faiths. People from all religions are invited to meditate silently under the massive flower.

Tour No.8 - On the other extreme of the city is Shah Jahanabad or Old Delhi. Rich in monuments of ancient dynasties, spend a day at the historic Red Fort (Lal Quila) or try delicious Indian fare at Chandni Chowk. Jama Masjid, the pinnacle of Mughal mosque architecture, lies close by and there are many interesting ancient Baolis strewn across the busy lanes.